Interconnected Earth: Air And Climate

24 July 2022
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64 test answers

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question
Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere is oxidized in the presence of nitrogen dioxide. Acid rain is an example of _______.
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a secondary pollutant
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Air pollution only occurs as a result of human activity.
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false
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All the radiation absorbed in the Earth's atmosphere is absorbed in the stratosphere.
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false
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Which of the following is not a common atmospheric pollutant?
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water
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What layer of the atmosphere is the most vital for supporting life on Earth?
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troposphere
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The _______ is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
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mesosphere
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Air pollution affects everyone equally.
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false
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How can carbon dioxide be considered a pollutant when it is a natural component of air?
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Carbon dioxide is considered a pollutant when larger concentrations than normal are present in the air as a result of human activity.
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Pollution in the will have the greatest effect on human health.
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troposphere
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What is a likely health effect of continued exposure to air pollution?
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all of the above
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Which of the following is an ozone depleting substance (ODS)?
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chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
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Depletion to the ozone layer can cause changes to the biogeochemical cycles.
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true
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The ozone layer helps to sustain terrestrial life by __________.
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all of the above
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The troposphere contains 90% of the ozone in the atmosphere.
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false
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Why are small quantities of chlorofluorocarbons so harmful to the ozone layer?
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Free oxygen atoms can replace the chlorine in chlorine monoxide, releasing a free atom of chlorine which can then recombine with an oxygen atom in ozone, destroying more ozone.
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How is good (stratospheric) ozone formed?
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[NOT] combining two single oxygen atoms
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The environmental and health risks associated with ground-level ozone are greater than the environmental and health risks associated with the depletion of the ozone layer.
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false
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Over 95% of incoming UV-B radiation is absorbed in the stratosphere.
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true
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How does the ozone layer affect life on Earth?
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filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation
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Which of the following is a possible consequence of ozone layer depletion on living organisms?
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increased exposure to ground-level ozone
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Which government agency would you expect to be most concerned with the impacts of pollution?
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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Landfill waste results in air pollution as _______.
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garbage decomposes and releases methane
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Which alternative energy source would be expected to be the least dependent upon the weather?
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geothermal power
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The principal source of air pollution from volcanoes is _______.
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ash
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Acid rain is the direct result of acid released by burning fossil fuels.
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false
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Humans are not the only animals that pollute the air.
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true
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Which of the following is not a technological way of improving air quality?
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composting
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In which city did smog kill thousands of people in only a few days?
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London
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The best method to improve air quality is to _______.
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produce less pollution and use technology to reduce the pollutants in air
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Wind, solar and geothermal power are called renewable energy sources because _______.
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they are continuously replenished
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Fish populations and other aquatic resources are likely to be affected by changes in what aquatic factors?
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all of the above
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Ecosystems have trouble adjusting to short-term changes.
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false
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Environmental factors can have various effects on ecosystems. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused significant damage in several states along the Gulf Coast, including Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes due to flooding and other damage caused by the storm. What environmental impact would Hurricane Katrina not have caused?
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early onset of spring
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Rising levels of carbon dioxide most likely
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have a greater detrimental effect on the sea than the land.
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Which of the following could cause a habitat change?
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all of the above
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Due to the increase in global temperatures, the range of plants and insects is increasing. The negative impact is that they now affect the local organisms in the area and are referred to as species.
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endangered
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Environmental factors can cause various changes in ecosystems. Which of the following would most likely have the greatest lasting effect on an ecosystem?
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change to the landscape from construction
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Habitat change can occur through natural causes.
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true
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How does change to an ecosystem that results in succession benefit the ecosystem?
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it leads to an increased level of biodiversity
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Which scenario best describes how climate trends might affect animal migration?
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Animals found in higher elevations will move to lower elevations.
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Scientists disagree about the possible effects of global warming.
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true
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Some scientists believe that global warming will lead to an increase in disease and starvation.
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true
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The scientific explanation for global warming is very dependent on the _______ atom.
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carbon
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How does an increase in the annual melt season in Antarctica have a global effect?
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The water in the melting glaciers can cause sea levels to rise.
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The early arrival of spring in New Hampshire has no effect on wildlife.
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false
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Which of the following is not a possible effect of increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
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cutting down forests
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How can local environmental changes have global effects?
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All of the above are true.
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Local environmental changes have no effect on the global climate.
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false
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It is not possible for global warming to have any positive side effects.
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false
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Which of the following is a way that studies have determined industry might be affected by legislation on global warming?
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creation of new jobs and technology
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Which of the following is not true concerning the interglacial period that began 15,000 years ago?
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none of the above
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Human activities _______.
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exacerbate the natural greenhouse effect
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During ices ages our planet supports more glaciers and deserts than forests.
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true
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Greenhouse gases are essential to support life on earth.
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true
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"In a 2009 study, presented by the National Academy of Science, 97% of climate scientists agree that human activity is causing global warming." Which of the following statements is best supported by this study?
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Most climate scientists believe that there is evidence that explains global warming.
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Global warming is a theory accepted by a majority of scientists.
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true
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What is known about climate history over the last 10,000 years?
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[NOT] glaciers and ice caps melted
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Why was the concern over global cooling replaced with a concern over global warming?
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Steady surface temperature increases were noted between the 1970's and 90's.
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Which of the following is not a manmade cause of global warming?
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respiration
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Greenhouse gases are best described as _______.
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gases that trap energy from the sun in Earth's atmosphere
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Which of the following does not lead to an increase in phytoplankton reproduction?
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increased oxygen levels
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Which of the following is a negative effect of algal blooms on the environment?
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consumption of water's oxygen
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Which of the following is not a way in which humans directly impact algal bloom production?
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fishing
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How does climate change lead to an increase in algal blooms?
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Increased levels of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, leads to increased phytoplankton growth.